to Jehoiachin, king of Judah," and not only released. him from prison, but gave him a royal pre-eminence over the kings that were with him in Babylon. Even while the territory of Judah's tribe lay desolate, that very desolation was, in itself, a practical continuance of the sabbatical ordinance, during the whole disastrous period of seventy years; so that the divine law never entirely departed. (2 Chron. xxxvi. 21.)

As the fierce strength of a lion will defend its whelps against the attack of any brute, however powerful; so did the Lion of the tribe of Judah prevail against all his enemies, and finally re-establish its dominion in its own territory: and that, because it was the destined root of David, the son of Jesse, from whom Messiah was to come.

They, who returned from Babylon by the decree of Cyrus, were the "chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin," and "the Priests the Levites." From that period, (536, B.C.) the seed of Israel became merged, as it were, in Judah; and the national designation was adopted from that tribe. They were thenceforth commonly known, no longer as Hebrews or Israelites, but " Jews."

Benjamin was the only distinct tribe that accompanied Judah, and with that tribe the scattered remnant of the other ten became nationally identified.

It seems that, after the restoration and the building of the second temple, the political administration of the law, and the service of the sanctuary-(the go

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vernment, civil as well as ecclesiastical,)—was vested in the priesthood, the descendants of the tribe of Levi. Yet this sacerdotal tribe was nationally merged in that of Judah, because Levi never had a distinct political existence. "Thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel; but thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony." "The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts"-" but the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony." (Numb. i. 49-53.)

"The Priests, the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi,"-" shall have no inheritance among their brethren the Lord is their inheritance." (Deut. xviii. 1, 2.)

:

"Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David"—" but Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them." (1 Chron. xxi. 5, 6.)

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Only unto the tribe of Levi, he gave none inheritance." (Joshua xiii. 14.)

Thus the sceptre, whether it be considered emblematical of the patriarchal staff, or of supremacy in civil government, survived with Judah especially, after the second temple. We find (Nehemiah xi. 1-4.) that the "rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots, to bring one of ten, to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city," "and

at Jerusalem dwelt the children of Judah and of Benjamin."

Thus were the ten tribes represented by one out of ten, who were specially allotted to reside in the holy city, under the rulers of the people, namely Judah and Benjamin, with the priests who dwelt at Jerusalem. The Jewish polity continued the same under the second temple, throughout all the various changes of adversity and prosperity, which befel that unhappy and persecuted people. Though "hardly bested," amidst "trouble, darkness, and dimness of anguish," as a nation, the Jews remained firm "to the law and to the testimony." (Is. viii. 19, 22.)

While suffering under the furious violence of Antiochus Epiphanes, "many in Israel chose rather to die, that they might not be defiled with meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant." (1 Maccabees i. 63.) B.C. 168. In the true spirit of Judah's kings, in the best reigns of earlier days, Judas Maccabeus, "seeing the coming of the multitude, and the divers preparations of armour, stretched out his hands towards heaven, and called upon the Lord that worketh wonders, knowing that victory cometh not by arms, but even as it seemeth good to him, he giveth it to such as are worthy." Therefore in his prayer he said after this manner. "O Lord! thou didst send thine angel, in the time of Ezekias king of Judea, and didst slay in the host of Sennacherib, an hundred, fourscore and five

thousand; wherefore now, also, O Lord of heaven! send a good angel before us, for a fear and dread unto them. And through the might of thine arm, let those be stricken with terror, that come against thy holy people to blaspheme." "Then Judas and his company encountered the enemies with invocation and prayer; so that fighting with their hands, and praying unto God with their hearts, they slew no less than thirty and five thousand men : for through the appearance of God, they were greatly cheered.” (2 Maccabees c. xv.)

There were doubtless many sad apostasies and grievous defections, under the oppression of the Syrian monarch. Nevertheless the temple remained, and the service of God prevailed in Judea, under the glorious rule, and persevering constancy, of the Asmonean princes.

In like manner they continued under Herod, and maintained their integrity, after Palestine became a Roman province.

At length, in the reign of Vespasian, forty years after the crucifixion of Him, to whom "all the prophets give witness," (Acts x. 43.) the temple was burnt, and the city rased to the ground, and the people were utterly dispersed. Then it was, and not till then, that "the sceptre departed from Judah, and a lawgiver from between his feet."

The prophecy proceeds to state, that, when the great event predicted shall occur, when Shiloh shall

come, there shall "be unto him a gathering of the people," "binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine." How strikingly was this fulfilled, when He, who declared himself to be the "true vine," entered Jerusalem as King of Zion, in his meek and lowly state, "sitting upon an ass-and a colt the foal of an ass." 66 Then was there a gathering of the people," when "the multitude went before him and followed-spreading their garments and strewing branches in the way; and crying Hosanna! to the Son of David: blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!"